Tigers demolish Wahoos 59-10

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Clemson’s November to Remember begins with a dominating win.

Eighth-ranked Clemson (BCS) played the first of four November contests Saturday in Charlottesville, and got big days from quarterback Tajh BoydTajh BoydRS Sr. Quarterback#10 6-1, 225Hampton, VAView Full Profile and receiver Sammy WatkinsSammy WatkinsJr. Wide Receiver#2 6-1, 205Fort Myers, FLView Full Profile and two big turnovers forced by freshman safety Jayron KearseJayron KearseFr. Safety#20 6-4, 205Fort Myers, FLView Full Profile in a 59-10 demolition of Virginia at Scott Stadium.

Clemson improved to 8-1 overall, 6-1 in the ACC, while Virginia lost its sixth consecutive game in falling to 2-7 overall, 0-5 in conference play.

Boyd finished the day with 24 completions in 29 attempts, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Watkins had eight receptions for 169 yards and two touchdown receptions. The two hooked up for a 96-yard scoring play early in the third quarter, the second-longest scoring play in Clemson history. Both players were done for the day early in the third quarter.

The Tigers took the opening kickoff, and made it look almost too easy, covering 75 yards in just five plays. Clemson had to convert just one third down on the drive – it wound up being a 17-yard pass to Martavis BryantMartavis BryantJr. Wide Receiver#1 6-5, 200Calhoun Falls, SCView Full Profile – and on the very next play Boyd went over the top to Watkins for a 33-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead just over a minute into the contest.

Clemson’s defense forced a punt, but the Tigers followed that with a 3-and-out and a punt that gave Virginia the ball near midfield. Ten plays later, the Wahoos scored on a six-yard run by Watford that tied the game at 7-7.

It didn’t take long for the Tigers to retake the lead, however; facing a 3rd-and-4 at their own 31-yard line, Boyd hit a wide open McDowell over the middle for 27 yards, and hit Bryant down the left sideline for 37 yards on the very next play to set up a first-and-goal. Two plays later, C.J. DavidsonC.J. DavidsonRS So. Running Back#32 5-11, 185Clemson, SCView Full Profile rumbled in from two yards out for a 14-7 Clemson lead.

Following that touchdown, both offenses went into hibernation, and it was Clemson’s defense that finally made a play that woke up Clemson’s offense.

The Tigers had just failed on a 4th-and-3 at the Virginia 47-yard line, but Watford airmailed a pass that was intercepted by Jaron Kearse – his third of the season – and Kearse returned it 37 yards to the Virginia 33. Seven plays later, Boyd flipped a pass to McDowell that turned into a 10-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 4:18 remaining in the first half.

Virginia’s ensuing drive reached midfield, but Kearse forced another turnover when he stripped Cav running back Khalek Shepherd of the ball at midfield with just over three minutes remaining in the half. McDowell got things started with a 16-yard rush, and three plays later broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and raced 25 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 Clemson lead.

Clemson’s defense forced a 3-and-out, but Virginia’s punt pinned the Tigers at their own 14-yard line with just 55 seconds remaining. However, the Tigers had all three timeouts, and Boyd led the team on an eight-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a Boyd one-yard keeper for a 35-7 lead with just 13 seconds remaining in the half.

The Tigers forced a Virginia punt to begin the second half, but Boyd was sacked on second down and the Tigers faced a 3rd-and-15 at their own four-yard line. Boyd dropped back to pass and hit a wide open Watkins up near midfield and Watkins easily outraced all of the defenders into the end zone for a 42-7 lead. The 96-yard scoring play was the longest pass of Boyd’s career, the longest reception of Watkins’ career and the second-longest play from scrimmage in Clemson history, second only to a 97-yarder set against Virginia in 1974.

The Cavaliers added a field goal that made it 42-10, but the Tigers were playing plenty of reserves by the middle of the third quarter. Third-string quarterback Chad KellyChad KellyRS Fr. Quarterback#11 6-2, 210Buffalo, NYView Full Profile provided a glimpse of the future when he took off on a 38-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter, showing no ill effects from his ACL surgery. Ammon LakipAmmon LakipRS So. Kicker#36 5-10, 185Alpharetta, GAView Full Profile added a 41-yard field goal with 8:24 remaining that made it 52-10.